We were delighted to take part in last week’s North West Senior Civil Service (SCS) event held at Liverpool Town Hall, where senior government leaders gathered to explore how the region is supporting national priorities for growth and innovation.

The event was open to over 100 Senior Civil Servants (SCS) from departments including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), alongside leaders from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council. Attendees represented the most senior levels of government, from Deputy Directors to Chief Executives, all working to strengthen collaboration across departments in the North West.

The overarching aim of the day was to highlight the valuable work happening across the region—from local authority plans for economic development to cutting-edge health innovation—providing updates on key initiatives such as the “Places for Growth” programme, and discussing the future of technology and artificial intelligence in public service.

The Pandemic Institute led a dedicated session chaired by Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council. The session, “Data-driven Pandemic Preparedness,” introduced senior leaders to pioneering work happening across The Pandemic Institute in tackling future health crises.

Professor Ashton opened the session by reflecting on Liverpool’s proud legacy of infectious disease research, from responses to Ebola and Zika to leading innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained how The Pandemic Institute builds on this track record by promoting collaboration across government, universities, and industry, to strengthen the UK’s preparedness for future health threats.

Attendees then heard from a panel of experts from across Liverpool’s academic community:

• Dr Emily Nixon explained how mathematical models can predict the spread of diseases, helping shape public health responses.

• Dr Annemarie Naylor MBE described her work in civic data and the exciting plans for Liverpool’s Civic Health Innovation Zone, which will support local innovation in healthcare technologies.

• Professor Kay O’Halloran provided insights into how misinformation about health spreads, and the critical role of data in countering it.

• Professor Cathy Montgomery spoke about vaccine hesitancy, focusing on improving vaccine uptake in vulnerable communities, particularly with flu vaccinations.

The panel addressed key challenges facing pandemic preparedness, such as ensuring equitable access to data and harnessing new technologies like AI to enhance decision-making. The session ended with an interactive Q&A with the audience, encouraging senior civil servants to consider how their departments could support this important work.

Participation in this event provided a valuable platform for The Pandemic Institute to engage directly with national decision-makers, helping to ensure that pandemic preparedness remains a top priority for the future.

We are grateful to the event organizers, particularly Grant Mesie and Caryn Hughes, for the invitation and coordination. The Pandemic Institute looks forward to continuing this dialogue with government partners to build a healthier, more resilient society.